The Foreign Office has updated its travel guidance for EU nations, outlining new border regulations affecting British travellers to popular destinations such as France, Spain, and Italy. The UK government has urged holidaymakers to familiarise themselves with the new Entry/Exit System (EES), which requires travellers to register biometric data, namely fingerprints and a photograph.
EES system and its requirements
The system is free of charge and applies to all UK travellers entering the Schengen area, with the regulations extending to children and babies alike. The revised guidance, rolled out across countries including France, Italy, Germany, and Greece, states: "On your first visit into a Schengen country, you may be asked to register your details at a special booth before proceeding to the immigration desk. Follow directions from your travel operator or the staff at your port of entry. You may also need to provide either your fingerprint or photo when you leave the Schengen area. Children aged 11 or younger will not have their fingerprints scanned but can be required to have their photo taken."
Notably, Greece has temporarily waived the requirement for British holidaymakers throughout the summer season, in a bid to ease the impact of large crowds.
What travellers need to do
The reassuring news is that travellers won't need to do anything before heading to the airport, as the checks are carried out at border control when they arrive at their destination. Nevertheless, Brits have already encountered lengthier queues and delays at popular destinations following the introduction of the system.
The guidance further states: "EES is replacing the previous system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the Schengen area for short stays. You may be asked to input biometric details every time you enter or exit. If you enter the Schengen area through the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or Eurostar at St Pancras International, any information will be taken at the border before you leave the UK."
Validity and exemptions
Your digital EES record is valid for 3 years. The guidance adds: "If you are long-term resident in a Schengen country, you are exempt from EES in all Schengen countries. The full list of EES exemptions is on the EU's official Travel Europe website. If you believe you have been incorrectly entered into EES or your record of time spent in the Schengen area is incorrect, approach border officials when you next cross the Schengen border and request a correction. If you are exempt, carry documentation confirming your status. If you believe your time spent in the Schengen area has been recorded incorrectly, raise this with border officials and be prepared to provide supporting evidence if requested."
The Schengen Area currently comprises Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
